rg0014.xmlGuide to the National Law Center records,
1865-2005RG0014Finding aid prepared by University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington UniversitySpecial Collections Research Center, The George Washington University2130 H St. NWWashington, District of Columbia, 20052(202) 994-7549speccoll@gelman.gwu.edu2005This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
2012-07-05T16:54-0400Finding aid written in
EnglishNational Law Center recordsRG0014Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University119.5 linear feet1865-2005Collection includes the law alumni photographic collection, founder's day celebrations, biographical sketches, articles reports, GW law school yearbooks, 1895 to 1915, bulletins and journals of the Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Research Institute of GW, (1950-1972), copies of the "Advocate," Banners scrapbooks correspondence Alumni reunions, minutes from the Board of Trustees, Research notes, banners, caps and gowns, reports to the Dean Exam questions, and information on Stockton Hall.
Preferred citation

National Law Center records, University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University.

Restrictions on Access

Series 12 is closed to research for 50 years from date of record creation.

Acquisition Information

Materials acquired through transfers from the National Law Center.

Restrictions on Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Historical Note

The George Washington University Law School is the oldest law school in the District of Columbia. Originally established in 1826 by vote of the board of trustees of Columbian College (now The George Washington University), classes were discontinued just one year later due to insufficient enrollment and lack of financial support.

In 1865, the Trustees recommended the reestablishment of the Law School, and classes began in the Old Trinity Episcopal Church on Fifth Street between D and E. The Law School was to occupy this space until 1884. The Department of Law offered the degree of bachelor of laws, which required two years of study.

Sixty graduates, from 22 of the then 37 states, received degrees in 1867. The School continued to have a student body and a faculty that reflected its location at the heart of the seat of the nation's government. Supreme Court Justices David J. Brewer and John Marshall Harlan were among the many prominent members of the bench and bar who were on the Law School faculty.

In 1872, the Trustees adopted a resolution to establish a one-year postgraduate course in legal practice. That same year, Lydia S. Hall and Belva Ann Lockwood graduated from the National University Law School, the school's first female graduates. (The National University Law School, which had held an important place in legal education in the District since 1869, was merged into The George Washington University Law School in 1954.)

In 1877, one year after the first such program was adopted in the United States, the Law School instituted a course leading to the degree of Master of Laws. In 1891, the Intellectual Property and Patent Law Program was initiated, with the first course in Patent Law taught by the Commissioner of Patents.

The George Washington Law Alumni Association was established in 1912, and in 1914 the Department of Law became the Law School.

In 1924, Stockton Hall was constructed on 20th Street. Designed to house the Law School in total when it was built, Stockton Hall now is one of four buildings that adjoin to form the Law School complex occupying the block on 20th Street between G and H Streets, across from the World Bank and just four blocks from the White House.

In 1936 the Law School was made a graduate school and the degree of Juris Doctor was established. A baccalaureate degree was a prerequisite for admission to the J.D. degree program.

As its contribution to the war effort, GW maintained the third floor of Stockton Hall during 1941 for use by the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps in testing fabrics for tropical use. In 1946, the Law School began accepting foreign attorneys into specially designed programs, and in 1948, Law School enrollment surpassed the one thousand mark.

In 1965 the International and Comparative Law Program was established. Two years later, the Law School library was able to consolidate its growing collection in the newly completed Jacob Burns Law Library. In 1970, the Environmental Law Program was introduced.

The Law School's Enrichment Program, which has annually brought such illustrious speakers as Supreme Court Justices Scalia, O'Connor, Kennedy, and Ginsburg; Senators Fred Thompson, George Mitchell, and Orrin Hatch; author Scott Turow; columnist George Will; FCC chairman Reed Hunt; ACLU president Nadine Strossen, and many others to the school, was established in 1981.

In 1984, Lerner Hall was completed and dedicated in a ceremony addressed by Chief Justice Warren Burger. In 2000, the Law School began a major building and renovation scheme to create an integrated, modern learning facility. The National Law Center became the School of Law in 1996.

Collection Scope and Content

Materials in this collection include the law alumni photographic collection, founder's day celebrations, biographical sketches, articles reports, GW law school yearbooks, 1895 to 1915, bulletins and journals of the Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Research Institute of GW, (1950-1972), copies of the "Advocate," Banners scrapbooks correspondence Alumni reunions, minutes from the Board of Trustees, Research notes, banners, caps and gowns, reports to the Dean Exam questions, and information on Stockton Hall.

Collection Organization

Organized into thirteen series: five are simply titled National Law Center; three are National Law Center, publications; one is National Law Center, self-study; one is Hugh Bernard, papers; one is Department files; and one is Alumni Relations office.

Self-study of the National Law Center, including its history, governance, faculty (with resumes), students, cirriculum, library, alumni, etc.

Self-Study of the National Law Center, including its history, governance, faculty (with resumes), students, curriculum, library, alumni,111979-1980Law School scrapbook,RG0014 Series 311898-19020.5 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note

Scrapbook of newspaper articles on the GW Law school. The materials range in date from 1898-1902.

National Law Center,RG0014 Series 4119651 Linear foot
Scope and Contents note

Banner for the centennial celebration of the law school, with GW seal.

This series consists of Law School yearbooks. They range in date from 1895-97, 1899, 1903, 1915.

Columbian Class-Book 1895- Law Class of 1895,111895Law Class- Columbian University,121896Columbian University Law School- The Class of 1897,131897Columbian University- Law Class of 1899,141899The Columbian- The Senior Class of the Law School of Columbian University,151903Res Gestae- George Washington University Law School Fiftieth Anniversary,161915Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Research Institute,RG0014 Series 711950-19720.5 Linear feet
Scope and Contents note

This series contains the bulletins and journals of the Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Research Institute of GW. They range in date from 1950-72.

This series contains minutes from the Board of Trustees relating to the Law School, research notes, yearbooks, banners, caps/gowns, reports of the Dean, exam questions, scrapbooks, and files related to Stockton Hall. This material dates from 1865-1984 and was the former Law School Archives.

Hugh Bernard was a law school librarian.

Report of the Dean of the National Law Center,111965-1966Report of the Dean of the National Law Center,121966-1967Report of the Dean of the National Law Center,131967-1968Report of the Dean of the National Law Center,141968-1969Report of the Dean of the National Law Center,151970-1971Report of the Dean of the National Law Center,161971-1972Report of the Dean of the National Law Center,171972-1973Report of the Dean of the National Law Center,181974-1975Report of the Dean of the National Law Center,191977-1979Report of the Dean of the National Law Center,1101982-1983Law School bulletins,211900-1950
General note

1900-1980's, 1920-30, 1940-50

Faculty Senate Minutes on Meetings,311980-1990Faculty News Notes,32undatedFaculty Senate Papers,33undatedOne Copy of the G.W. Forum,34undatedCopies of the Flaw Review,35undatedThe Monday Report,36undated"Lengthened Shadows",37undatedCopies of A University in the Nations Capital,38undatedAdvocates,411970-1980Bernard's appointment notes,421960-1970Misc. Faculty Papers,51undatedPublications of Law School,521960-1980Memorandums,53undatedMeeting minutes,54undatedAnnual Reports,55undatedLaw School brochures,56undatedLaw School history,57undatedUnrelated materials,58undatedLaw School Yearbook,611895
General note

Scrapbook of dedication of Stockton Hall,1121925Cherry Tree,1211909Cherry Tree,1221910Cherry Tree,1231915Cherry Tree,1241917Cherry Tree,1271923Cherry Tree,1281927Cherry Tree,1291928Scrapbooks, records of the law school ,1311933-1940
General note

In the Twilight of My Memory,141undatedThe Lost Heritage,142undatedGreenleaf and Law,143undatedA Bibliography of Materials on Legal Education,144undatedLawyers and their Story,145undatedA Lawyer's Story,146undatedAmerica Revisited,147undatedThe Law Harvard,148undatedThe Law School at Case Western Reserve University,149undatedBrigham Young University Law Review,1410undatedThe School of Law- Columbia University,1411undatedContemporary Author,1412undatedThe Professional School and World Affairs,1413undatedProcessing and Storage of Viable Human Tissues,1414undatedScrapbooks, records of the law school,1511941-1948
General note

2 Hoods of Dean Wm. C. VanVleck,161undatedCap of Dean VanVleck,162undatedCeremonial Gown of Dean VanVleck,163undatedLaw School history, Trustees minutes,1711931-1983Law School history, School of Comparative Jurisprudence,1721891Law School history,1731977-1979Law School history,1741980-1987Law School history,1751968-1976Law School history,1811953-1965Law School history,1821965-1967Law School history,1831877-1985Law School history,1841926-1951Law School history,1851913-1925Law School history,1911897-1984Law School history,1921873-1926Law School history,1931865-1952Law School history, photographs,194undatedHugh Bernard, papers,2011961-1984
General note

Audio tapes of Bernard dictating history of GW Law School; certificate from American Association of Law Libraries (1961); woodcut of 17th century library; Luther Rice Society award (1971-72); James Moore Associates award; Reinhold Niebuhr serenity poem; American Bar Association Journal, July 1978; "Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity: A History"; "The Impact of the Environmental Sciences and the New Biology on Law Libraries"; "Universitas" newsletter of the University Professors for Academic Order, Inc.(1970-81); Realistic CTR-30B cassette recorder

This series contains reports, bulletins, brochures, applications, press releases, posters, forms, faculty handbook, briefs, speeches, invitations, tickets, tuition payment book, directories, newsletters, publications, worksheets, papers, and programs. They range in date from 1866 to 2001. The materials concern annual reports, the Law library, plagiarism, admissions, Law School Admissions Services (LSAT), buildings, registration, reports of the Dean, faculty, fellowships, George Washington Law Association, the Government Contracts Program, the Government Contracts Institute, history, continuing education, graduate program, Law School, conferred degrees, Institute of Law and Aging, placement office, planning and development, citations, "Studies in Law and Economic Development", events, the Student Bar Association, Student Directories, student productions, the Patent Trademark Copyright Research Institute (changed to the Patent Trademark Copyright Research Foundation), conferences, the Charles F. Kettering award, the Department of Law and Jurisprudence, the Association of American Law Schools, policy and procedures, "The George Washington Law Association Bulletin", history, buildings, the Law School's centennial celebration, the International Law Center, patent law training, a patent petition for a broom, scholarships, fellowships, and graduates. Biographic information about Brigadier General David Sarnoff is also included.

First Year Law Student Brunch, Dean Jerome Barron and Valerie Perrin,13.808/23/1980First Year Law Student Brunch, Valerie Perrin and Pres. Lloyd Elliott,13.908/23/1980First Year Law Student Brunch,13.108/23/1980
General note

Founders Day Pictures,211.2711/12/1976Founders Day Pictures,211.2811/12/1976Founders Day Pictures,211.2911/12/1976Founders Day Pictures,211.311/12/1976Founders Day Pictures,211.3111/12/1976First Year BrunchPrint,211.32undatedFirst Year BrunchPrint,211.33undatedFirst Year BrunchPrint,211.34undated50th Reunion, Class of 1924,211.3505/10/1974
General note

A group by an airplane,212.46undatedA group by an airplane with a plaque,212.47undatedA group by an airplane with a plaque,212.48undatedA Speaker,212.49undatedG.W. Law Alumni luncheon, American Bar Association annual meeting,212.508/07/1978
General note

Two Men At Dining Table,325.1undatedPresident Elliot and another man chatting over lunch,325.2undatedDaniel P. Oppenheim with other two individuals,325.3undatedDavid C. Nurchism and another man,325.4undatedA Group possing for a picture,325.5undatedCommissioner Everett Macintyre and two other men,325.6undatedDr. Seymour Alpert with others,325.7undatedJohn Mcintire and Prof. William Frayar with others,325.8undatedA Couple,325.9undatedTwo Men Chatting,325.1undatedDean Kramer Chatting with a man,325.11undatedFour Men Possing for a Picture,325.12undatedA Father and a Daughter? in robes,325.13undatedPresident Elliot, Dean Kramer and another person chatting,325.14undatedD.C. Chapter Luncheon, Marvin Center,326.110/04/1972
General note

Group of men standing,339.11undatedABA participants,339.121967
General note

Participants

ABA participants,339.131967
General note

Participants

ABA participants,339.141967
General note

Participants

Walter E. Dance,440undatedPresident Elliot,441undatedTwo men chatting over breakfast,442.1undatedA group enjoying refreshments and chatting,442.2undatedA group enjoying refreshments and chatting,442.3undatedA group enjoying refreshments and chatting,442.4undatedTwo men chatting,442.5undatedTwo men chatting,442.6undatedA group of men possing for a picture,443undatedDean Kramer, two men and women in an office,444.1undatedDean Kramer, two men and women in an office,444.2undatedDean Kramer, two men and women in an office,444.3undatedDean Kramer, two men and women in an office,444.4undatedDC Chapter Law Alumni Luncheon,445.1undated
General note

Hon. Patricia Roberts Harris addressing the partcipants, see print

DC Chapter Law Alumni Luncheon,445.2undated
General note

E.A. Pottis addressing participants

DC Chapter Law Alumni Luncheon,445.307/02/1971
General note

Participants

David Pelton Moore at his typewriter for Law Sch.,446.107/02/1971David Pelton Moore at his typewriter for Law Sch.,446.207/02/1971David Pelton Moore,446.307/02/1971
General note

High Pile Fabric Invention

David Pelton Moore,446.407/02/1971
General note

High Pile Fabric Invention

David Pelton Moore,446.507/02/1971
General note

High Pile Fabric Invention

National Law Center Advising Council Meeting,44703/24/1970
General note

Jacob Burns and four others standing around a sign of the Law Library,456.81967
General note

Unidentified

Jacob Burns and Pres. Elliot shaking hands,456.91967Large Shot of the Jacob Burns Law Library sign,456.11967Morres and Ellison,456.111967Morres and Ellison,456.121967Morres and Ellison,456.131967Morres and Ellison,456.141967Large Shot of the Jacob Burns Law Library Sign,456.151967Mr. and Mrs. Francis Kirkham,457.1undated
General note

Books Shelves, Library,458.1undatedNeighboorhood view from a room,458.2undatedA flooded foor scene,458.3undatedA renovation work on a building,458.4undatedA renovation work on a building,458.5undatedA renovation work on a building,458.6undatedA renovation work on a building,458.7undatedA renovation work on a building,458.8undatedA renovation work on a building,458.9undatedBook Shelves,458.1undatedBook Shelves,458.11undatedRenovation work on a building,458.12undatedRenovation work on a building,458.13undatedInside view of a building,458.14undatedInside view of a building,458.15undatedInside view of a building,458.16undatedInside view of a building,458.17undatedInside view of a building,458.18undatedInside view of a building,458.19undatedBooks on shelves,458.2undatedMetal Shelves,458.21undatedMetal Shelves,458.22undatedBuilding under renovations,458.23undatedBuilding under renovations,458.24undatedAn inside view of a building,458.25undatedA man reading from a noticeboard,458.26undatedAn inside view of a building,458.27undatedA metal shelf,458.28undatedA building under renovations,458.29undatedA building under renovations,458.3undatedA building under renovations,458.31undatedA building under renovations,458.32undatedMetal shelves,458.33undatedMetal shelves,458.34undatedMetal shelves,458.35undatedFabian Bachrach,459.1undatedSarah Hughes Luncheon,460.1undated
General note

Richard D. Kearney, Deputy Legal Advisor, presents the GWU Award for Best Oral Arguement to Vance M. Waggoner,461.61966Prof. Davidson and Dean Robert Kramer with the GWU trophy for Best Oral Argument,461.7undatedParticipants,461.8undatedProf. J. Forrister Davidson and Bob Soliety,461.9undatedProf. J. Forrister Davidson and a receipent of the GWU trophy for Best Oral Arguement,461.1undatedDean Kramer and a recepient of the GWU trophy for Best Oral Arguement,461.11undatedThe GWU trophy for Best Oral Arguement,461.12undatedSpring Luncheon of the International Law Society,461.1305/03/1967
General note

Dean Kramer, Edward K. Morris, Henry Cabot Lodge

Spring Luncheon of the International Law Society,461.1405/03/1967
General note

Henry Cabot Lodge

Spring Luncheon of the International Law Society,461.1505/03/1967
General note

Pres. Elliot and three other men presenting a drawing of Law Library,564.1undatedE. Potts, C. Dougherty and L'Honmedieu,564.2undatedOne day before clearing the sight for the National Law Center,564.3undatedFive Days after awarding the contract for the National Law Center,564.4undatedThe National Aviation Club Present,565.1undated
General note